Disney California Adventure
Disney’s California Adventure
To all who believe in the power of dreams Welcome! DISNEYS CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE opens its golden gates to you. Here we pay tribute to the dreamers of the past the native people, explorers, immigrants, aviators, entrepreneurs and entertainers who built the Golden State. And we salute a new generation of dreamers who are creating the wonders of tomorrow from the silver screen to the computer screen from the fertile farmlands to the far reaches of space. DISNEYS CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE celebrates the richness and the diversity of California its land, its people its spirit and above all, the dreams that it continues to inspire.
Dedication read by Michael D. Eisner, Chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company on February 8, 2001
Location:
DISNEYS CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE park is located approximately 27 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Its hometown is Anaheim, California across from DISNEYLAND park.
Size:
DISNEYS CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE occupies 57 acres.
- Guest parking accommodates 10,250 vehicles.
- Height of iconographic C A L I F O R N I A letters at entrance to park is 11 feet.
- Height of Golden State Bridge towers is 58 feet.
- Height of reflective Sun sculpture is 50 feet.
- Length of wave fountain in Sunshine Plaza is 52 feet.
- Area of ceramic tile murals at entrance to park in the Golden Gateway is 10,600 square feet (among the largest in the world).
Lands:
DISNEYS CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE celebrates the adventure, spirit and culture of the State of California in four themed lands a bug’s land, Golden State, Paradise Pier and Hollywood Pictures Backlot. Each is divided into themed districts. The attractions and highlights include the following:
A Bugs Land
A Bugs Land, designed specially for kids, opened October 7, 2002, bringing with it the Fliks Fun Fair area of five all-new attractions. Fliks Fun Fair is one of three key areas in a bugs land, along with the existing Its Tough to be a Bug! show and the Bountiful Valley Farm” featuring new bug-themed entertainment and landscaping. Inspired by the Disney/Pixar film ABugs Life, kids experience a fun-filled world from a bugs point of view.
Flik’s Fun Fair – A place where everyday items from the human world take on huge proportions. Garden hoses, pebbles and stalks of clover tower overhead. Abandoned umbrellas have become circus tents and fast food containers whisk guests off on an exciting ride.
Fliks Flyers offers whimsical bug-size hot air balloon ride fashioned from leaves and empty food containers.
Tuck & Rolls Drive Em Buggies is a crazy drive-it-yourself bug car ride under P.T. Fleas circus tent.
Heimlichs Chew Chew Train is a miniature railroad ride with the ever-hungry caterpillar Heimlich as he meanders through a land filled with giant pieces of candy and food.
Francis Ladybug Boogie is a lively ride on spinning, dancing ladybugs.
Princess Dot Puddle Park is a water playground with a giant-size garden hose, sprinkler nozzle and leaky spigot.
a bug’s land” also features:
Bountiful Valley Farm celebrates Californias role as the nation’s #1 producer of farm products and is whimsically themed to “a bug’s land.” Covering 2 1/2 acres, the Farm is planted with a colorful variety of flowers and is decorated with playful sculptures depicting the stars of A Bugs Life. It also features “The Ugly Bug Ball” stage show with Flik and Atta, Caterpillar tractors, a water-play Irrigation Station, P.T. Flea Market and favorite foods at the Bountiful Valley Farmers Market.
It’s Tough to be a Bug! is a 3-D visit with Flik and Hopper from Disney/Pixars computed animated movie, A Bugs Life. Show time length is 8 1/2 minutes. Theater capacity is 425 and space for eight wheelchairs. Screen size is 21 x 46 feet with two 70mm projectors.
- It’s Tough to be a Bug! – (opened February 8, 2001) : A 3-D film on how life is for an insect.
- Bountiful Valley Farm – (opened February 8, 2001) : A water play area for kids about California’s irrigation system.
- Flik’s Fun Fair
- Flik’s Flyers – (opened October 7, 2002) : A swing ride in which visitors swing in over-sized food boxes.
- Francis’ Ladybug Boogie – (opened October 7, 2002) : A ride similar to Mad Tea Party in neighboring Disneyland, except ladybugs are used instead of tea cups.
- Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train – (opened October 7, 2002) : A train ride in which visitors see how Heimlich finds food.
- Princess Dot Puddle Park – (opened October 7, 2002) : A water play area for kids
- Tuck and Roll’s Drive’Em Buggies – (opened October 7, 2002) : A bumper car ride
GOLDEN STATE
Celebrates the adventurous heritage of California and the immigrants who came looking for the golden dream, Golden State features five themed areas including Condor Flats, Grizzly Peak Recreation Area, The Golden Vine Winery, Pacific Wharf and The Bay Area.
- Condor Flats
- Soarin’ Over California (opened February 8, 2001) : Riders “soar” and “swoop” over famous California landmarks.
- Grizzly Peak Recreation Area
- Grizzly River Run (opened February 8, 2001) : Riders ride down rafts on white water rapids.
- Redwood Creek Challenge Trail (opened February 8, 2001) : A play area for kids, featuring a Mount Shasta wilderness-like setting and suspension and wire bridges. It also featuring rock climbing and a Brother Bear scene cave. It is also designed for adventurous adults.
- The Bay Area
- Golden Dreams (opened February 8, 2001) : A movie about California’s past and present.
- Golden Vine Winery
- Seasons of the Vine (opened February 8, 2001) : A film about California’s Wine Country.
- Pacific Wharf
- Mission Tortilla Factory (opened February 8, 2001) : A close-up look on tortilla production.
- The Bakery Tour (opened February 8, 2001) : A presentation on how sourdough bread is made and about the Boudin Bakery.
Condor Flats A high-desert test-pilots landing field with weathered hangars left over from mans first attempts to break the sound barrier.
Soarin” is a virtual hang-gliding adventure over some of The world’s most amazing landmarks. Height of bowl-shaped screen is 80 feet. There are two theaters that house 87 guests in each.
[google_ad_btf]Grizzly Peak Recreation Area A granite mountain-top shaped by nature like the head of a growling Grizzly bear rises 110 feet over a High Sierra landscape with pine and snow-covered slopes and the worlds highest, longest and fastest rushin river raft ride.
Grizzly River Run is a wild, wet river-rafting adventure. Height of peak is 110 feet. Height of Grizzly River Run lift is 45 feet, length of ramp is 300 feet and longest drop is 22 feet.
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail features three ranger fire towers that give youthful exuberance a workout with smokejumper cable slides, net climbing and swaying bridges plus nature storytelling beneath the redwoods.
The Golden Vine Winery In a vineyard of 350 growing grape vines and a Mission-style building, guests learn about the wine-making process, enjoy fine dining and taste wines in this first pressing of Napa Valley culture.
Seasons of the Vine presents the challenge of California winemaking and the beauty of the wine country in this dramatic and insightful film that follows grape-growers from spring vine cutting to bountiful harvest.
The Bay Area A 45-foot tall replica of the Rotunda of San Franciscos Palace of Fine Arts within a beautifully landscaped garden is the focal point for this little city beside Paradise Bay. A 14 x 100 foot mural lining the colonnade introduces the themes, characters and stories of the Golden Dreams attraction.
Golden Dreams is a 22-minute motion picture filled with humor and emotion housed in a 350-seat theater that tells the story of California through the eyes of her immigrants. The film features acclaimed actress Whoopi Goldberg as the legendary Califia Queen of California.
PARADISE PIER
Here are electrifying experiences from the glory days of Californias seaside amusement piers when they were magnets for sun-seeking and fun-loving kings, movie stars and crowds of thrill-seekers. Some of the areas attractions include:
- California Screamin’ (opened February 8, 2001) : One of the fastest steel roller coasters in the United States, modeled after a traditional Boardwalk wooden roller coaster.
- Maliboomer (opened February 8, 2001) : A drop ride that launches 180 ft. in 4 seconds.
- Sun Wheel (opened February 8, 2001) : A ferris wheel ride with both swinging and stationary gondolas.
- Mulholland Madness (opened February 8, 2001) : A mini-coaster modeled after Los Angeles’s Mulholland Drive.
- Orange Stinger (opened February 8, 2001) : Swings that revolve around a giant orange.
- Golden Zephyr (opened February 8, 2001) : A spin ride similar to Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Astro Orbitor in neighboring Disneyland.
- King Triton’s Carousel (opened February 8, 2001) : A carousel of sea creatures.
- Jumpin’ Jellyfish (opened February 8, 2001) : A mini-drop ride
- S.S. rustworthy (opened February 8, 2001) : A model of a ship, which is a play area for kids.
- Games of the Boardwalk (opened February 8, 2001) : Boardwalk-like pay games
King Tritons Carousel takes children of all ages on an undersea swirl in this charming attraction. Diameter is 47 feet. Number of sea creatures that guests may ride is 56. Maximum number of guests at one time is 64. Speed of carousel is 4.3 rpm.
California Screamin is rollicking roller coaster that begins with a catapult start: taking guests from 0 to 55 miles-per-hour in 4 seconds. Number of trains is 6 and number of cars per train is 6. Maximum speed is 55 mph. Maximum drop is 108 feet. Length of track is 6,072 feet. Launch length is 215 feet. Number of sensors is 550. Miles traveled per year is 50,000. Weight of train loaded is 22,000 pounds. Number of speakers on board is 108. Six miles of electrical wire.
Sun Wheel is a huge giant spinning wheel in the shape of a grinning sun that holds 24 passenger gondolas. Six guests per gondola is the maximum capacity. The wheel diameter is 168 feet and the circumference is 500 feet. Weight of steel is 5.8 million pounds. Number of pieces of structural steel is 32,000. Number of parts (including nuts and bolts) is 1.8 million. Metal rays radiating from center is 32. The sunface diameter is 40 feet. Speed of wheel is 5 rpm.
HOLLYWOOD PICTURES BACKLOT
- Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! (opened January 23, 2006) : A dark ride that goes through the scenes of the movie Monsters, Inc.
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (opened May 5, 2004) : A drop ride based on the movie Tower of Terror.
- Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular (opened January 16, 2003) : A musical of Disney’s movie Aladdin at the Hyperion Theater.
- Playhouse Disney – Live on Stage! – (opened April 11, 2003) : A show in which visitors can meet the Playhouse Disney characters live.
- Muppet*Vision 3D – (opened February 8, 2001) : A 3-D show featuring the Muppets in 3D.
- Disney Animation (opened February 8, 2001)
- Turtle Talk with Crush – (opened July 15, 2005) : A show in which one can interact with Crush in Finding Nemo.
- Animation Academy – (opened February 8, 2001) : A presentation on how to draw Disney characters.
- Character Closeup – (opened February 8, 2001) : A show in where visitors can view all Disney characters closeup.
- Sorcerer’s Workshop – (opened February 8, 2001) : A presentation where visitors can create their own animation.
- The Hollywood Backlot Stage – (opened February 8, 2001) : Disney’s California Adventure’s performing center
Hollywood as a state of mind, not a real place, but as a backlot movie set surrounded by huge soundstages housing attractions which give guests fun-filled ways to pretend theyre Hollywood celebrities. They can imagine themselves as movie starlets, character voices or extras havinglunch on a movie set. A traditional landmark water tower at the rear of the lot bears the name Hollywood Pictures Backlot. Some of the areas attractions include:
[google_ad_btf]Hyperion Theater is a state-of-the-art venue that presents live stage performances. Now showing is “Disney’s Aladdin – Live on Stage,” a new, 40-minute musical based on the popular Disney animated film. The number of seats in theater is 2,000. Height of fly tower is 90 feet. Theater height is 76 feet. Stage is 55 feet deep and 60 feet wide. Wings are 30 feet per side.
Disney Animation This attraction is actually five attractions in one. Housed in a stylized art deco inspired building, Disney Animation immerse guests in the great Disney animation legacy, from its history to hands on demonstrations and fun-filled exhibits including the impressive Courtyard Gallery, the new film Walt Disney: One Mans Dream, Drawn to Animation demonstration, the interactive Sorcerers Workshop and the Art of Animation Gallery.
Former DCA Attractions
- February 8, 2001- January 11, 2002
- Superstar Limo was a dark ride that took riders through a cartoony version of Hollywood, spotting some celebrities like Regis Philbin, Drew Carey, and Whoopi Goldberg. The attraction closed in 2002 and has been converted into a Monsters, Inc.
- September 14, 2001-August 20, 2004
- Millionaire was an attraction in which park guests played a real game of Millionaire, except with points instead of dollars. Including the ten players in the “Ring of Fire” seats (which included video screens) down on the stage, the entire audience could play the Fastest Finger game, in which players had toput certain items in a certain order, such as “Put these American cities in order from east to west.”
The game’s prizes were:
- Every question earned a guest a commemorative pin with the point value of said question on it
- 1,000 points – Who Wants To Be A Millionaire – Play It! Baseball Cap
- 32,000 points – Who Wants To Be A Millionaire – Play It! Polo Shirt to Castaway Cay in the Bahamas (2002-2004)